Fox Sedge

(Carex vulpinoidea)

Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Carex vulpinoidea, commonly known as Fox Sedge, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to wet meadows, marshes, and along streams and rivers in North America. It has also become naturalized in parts of Europe and New Zealand. Fox Sedge typically forms dense clumps of stems that can reach up to a meter in height. The inflorescence is a distinctive dense, tangled cluster of flower spikes, each about 10 cm (3.9 in) long, with a greenish-brown color that may not be particularly showy but adds texture to the landscape. This sedge is valued for its ability to thrive in wet conditions and its usefulness in soil stabilization and water filtration in riparian buffer zones.

Fox Sedge is an excellent choice for rain gardens, wetland restoration projects, and naturalized areas where it can handle fluctuating water levels and periods of drying. It is often used to prevent soil erosion along waterways. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and can adapt to a range of soil types, though it performs best in medium to wet soils with medium or slow drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it can become aggressive in optimal conditions, spreading by rhizomes to form large colonies.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Grass, Grass
  • Height: 2-3 feet
  • Width: 0.5-2 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Wet meadows, marshes, and along streams and rivers in North America

Other Names

Common Names: Common Fox Sedge , Brown Fox Sedge , American Fox Sedge , American Fox-Sedge , Fuchsartige Segge , Fuchsähnlige Segge , Fuchsseggenähnliche Segge , Carex Vulpinoïde , Ribbelzegge

Scientific Names: Carex vulpinoidea , Carex muhlenbergii , Carex moniezii , Carex multiflora , Carex setacea , Carex vulpinoidea var. pycnocephala , Carex vulpinoidea var. vulpinoidea , Carex vulpinoidea f. vulpinoidea , Carex vulpinoidea var. setacea , Carex vulpinoidea var. segregata

GBIF Accepted Name: Carex vulpinoidea Michx.